The Junkyard Dog

By: Waymond Jordan

I’m new around here, so allow me to introduce myself. 

I have a chip on my shoulder and I play with something to prove. 

I’ve always been one of the smallest guys on any team, even back to when I was a kid. But I’ve also always been the most ferocious guy on any team. 

I’m willing to compete against anybody. And if anyone wants to line up against me, it’s going to be a long day for him.

I want to go against the best and be the best, and honestly that’s why I’m here. 

My name is Waymond Jordan: The Junkyard Dog.

Football means a lot to me. My dad tried to get me into football when I was four, but I was too young to be on the team. I still practiced with them for a full season before I was allowed to play. In my second year of football, when I turned six, I started running the ball and that’s when everything took off.

Growing up I played quarterback, but got moved to running back in high school. I thought I wanted to be a wide receiver or a corner, but I just like running the ball. I still think I could play any of it though. 

I grew up in Pensacola, Florida, and I went to Escambia High School, which you might recognize from the likes of Emmitt Smith and Trent Richardson.

Coming out of high school, I ended up at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. It was just another step in my journey, and I knew I had to work hard every single day to get ready to take the next step. Last year, in my second year we won the National Championship. It’s hard to win a national championship at any level. It takes what it takes. And I’ve seen it firsthand. I’m bringing that knowledge with me to USC.

Last year I also won the JUCO Weekly award. It’s given to The Best JUCO Player in America. It’s basically the Heisman for JUCO. To me though, it was all my teammates that helped me win it. We really all won it. Individual success comes with team success. Every time a team is winning, people are always going to notice the individuals who are making it happen. And that’s what I’m here to do. 

I’m here to help us win in any way I can. Whatever the coaches ask of me, whatever the team needs of me. That’s what I’m going to do.

I’ll go against whoever I need to in practice. We did a drill at a recent practice, it was like a variation of tug-of-war and Big Jah didn’t have anyone to go against. So I stepped up. I told him he wasn’t going to beat me, he did, but I don’t care. I feel like I’m bigger than I am. I play bigger than I am. I’m The Junkyard Dog. 

Taking this next step in my football career is about every single detail. There’s no part of the process that is too small. I’m here to break any stereotypes anyone has about JUCO kids being dumb or arrogant or not going to class. I came in ready to work in every phase: in the classroom, weight room, training room and on the field.

I’m here to sharpen my game, to become a better football player, but I’m also here to get my degree, to broaden my horizons and venture out into the business world, building my network and connections through football. I remember what it was like to be a kid just starting out in this game, and I’m here to be a role model for other kids who want to play football. To show them what’s possible no matter how big or small they might be. 

I’m still learning all the storied history of this place, but it doesn’t take much to know it’s special. I’m here to continue the legacy of USC running backs and to add my name to the list. I’m here to win national championships, conference championships, football games and to win every time I step on the field, whether it's in the Coliseum or at practice.

I’m here and I’m ready to work. 

I am The Junkyard Dog.